Package-fastener.



PATENTED MAR. 1, 1904. D. J. MOLEAN-' I PACKAGE FASTENBR.

APPLICATION nun ma. 20. 1903.

H0 MODEL.

w g M lizreiztor.

77553637905. e. MWUQ W L mi nonms PETERS cu. maroumu. wunmcwm n. c.

Patented March 1, 1904:.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUNCAN JOHN MCLEAN, OF BRIDGEBURG, CANADA.

PACKAGE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,727, dated March 1,1904.

Application filed March 20, 1903.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DUNCAN JOHN MOLEAN, mail clerk, of the town ofBridgeburg, in the county of Welland, Province of Ontario, Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Fasteners, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for securing the ends ofstring used to fasten packages of various kinds, and more particularlythe device is adapted for securing together anumber of letters in apost-office for transmission together; and it consists, essentially, ofa device havinga body portion provided with a holdfast projection at oneside,

' suitable holes for the connection of the ends of the fastening-string,a locking-lever spring held in position, and a further device or metalloop designed to carry the looped ends of the string in eyes formed inthe same, such loop being designed to be passed over the holdfastprojection, and the parts being otherwise constructed and arranged indetail as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure .1 is a perspective view of a package of letters secured togetherby my fasteningdevice, the lever clamping device being in the act ofdescending to grip the string. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device, thestrings being removed therefrom and the lever being shown in the openposition. Fig. 3 is a view of the device with portions of the stringsshown and the lever in the closed position. Fig. iis a perspective Viewof the device looking at it from the rear. Fig. '5 is a section througha package secured by the device, the body of the device being sectionedon the line X X, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section through the device on theline Y Y, Fig. 3, when the clamping-lever is down. I Fig. 7 is asectionon the line Y Y, Fig- 3, when the clamping-lever is'down, but thelocking device is open. Fig. 8 is a-view of a band which might beemployed in place of or in addition to the binding-strings.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

A is a package which is to be secured together by the fastener.

-B is the body of the fastener, which consists of a .base or horizontalportion 6, the vertical Serial No. 148,743. (No model.)

side 6, which extends from end to end of the body at one side of thebase 6, the upright .portion 6 and the projection 6 at the rear of thebody. The projection 6 has an overhangingportion 6*, which extendstoward the front of the body, a rounded groove being formed therein.

Any suitable cord, tape, or bands may be provided for surrounding theparcel to be secured; but the preferable form I employ is a singlestring 0. The ends of the string 0 are fastened-in holes 00 in the endsof the vertical portion 6, and thereby a loop is formed of the string.The string is then carried around the parcel into the form of two loopsat the opposite side, which are connected or extend through the eyes ofthe U-shaped metal loop or hook D, thestring having been previouslythreaded through such eyes before the ends of the string are, fastenedin the bar. Thefree end or loop of the string extending from the eyespasses around the opposite side of the parcel and is carried throughholes w in the bar B, and this loop is passed to the inside of the metalloop, as shown at M, Fig. 3.

By pulling upon the free end of the looped string it necessarily drawsthe metal loop or hook D toward the projection 6 and by continuing todraw forwardly on it the string is tightened and at the same time themetal loop pulled forwardly until it passes over the projection 6 asindicated in Figs. 1 and'3.

The end of the string is secured from being unloosened by a looking orclamping lever F, aroundwhich the looped end of the string is preferablywound when such lever is thrown down, as indicated in Fig. 3.

The clamping-lever F is pivotally mounted between the vertical side 6 ofthe body and the vertical portion 6 and is designed to be forced down insuch a position as to grip the string E between the lever and thevertical side 6.

suitable device which will prevent its working loose until it isreleasedwhen the package is is to be unfastened.

The device which I have invented for this purpose consists of a catch G,which is mounted on a spindle or rod H, which is located in a notch orrecess 6 formed in the vertical side The lever is then looked down byany IOO piece 6, the ends of the rod being held in suitable holes formedin the side piece. The rear portion of this catch when the lever is downand locked is formed substantially in the shape of an arc of a circlehaving its center in the center of the rod H. A correspondinglycurvednotch f is formed in the side of the lever. (See Figs. 6 and 7.) Whenthe catch is in the open position, its rear face is vertical and isdesigned to be clearof the lever. A spiral spring I surrounds the rod orspindle H, the end of this spring being passed through the outsideportion of the catch G and the spring being adapted to press the catchin such a direction as to give it a tendency to turn in the directionindicated by the arrow in Figs. 6 and 7. When the catch is in theposition shown in Fig. 6, it will be seen that the projection g, whichabuts the side of the body, will prevent the catch from turning exceptin the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow. It will thusbe seen that the lever F cannot possibly slip out so long as the catchis in this position, as any pressure from the lever will be in theupward direction, which will only press the projection g against theside of the body. When, however, it is desirable to raise the lever andrelease the cord, the catch may be turned in the direction opposite tothat indicated by the arrow by any suitable means; but it is found mostconvenient to pass the loose end a of the cord underneath the projectiong and give the catch an upward pull. This will immediately release thelever, which may then be raised, and the cord will also be released,thus permitting the package to be unfastened.

When the catch G is raised to the position shown in Fig. 7 to allow thelever F to be moved up to release the cord, the spring I as soon as thelever is lifted forces the catch back into its locking position. (Shownin Fig. 6.) When the lever is pressed down again to hold the cord, itslower edge will cause the catch to rotate on its axis, so as to permitthe lever to pass down to its full extent, when the spring will causethe catch to spring into the notch in the lever, and thus securely holdthe same.

It will now beseen that I have devised a simple means of fasteningtogether packages of various kinds.

My device may be used in a great many ways; but the principal object forwhich it has been invented is to secure together bunches of lettersintended for the same destination. A number of the fasteners may be keptin the post-oiiice or on the train where the letters are sorted with thestrings already secured thereto. When a number of letters are sortedout,

they may be placed together and b simply pul ing the looped string Caround t em and gripping such string with the lever the package may besecurely fastened together, thus saving a considerable amount of timewhich is generally wastedin tying the packages.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a band to which the intermediate looped endsof'the string C may be secured, this band having a suitably-shaped ringor loop D at its end to take the place of the loop D. The object inusing the band would be to avoid cutting the paper of the envelops; butthis might be dispensed with in the majority of cases.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exactform and construction of the various parts of the device as shown, asconsiderable changes might be made in the form of the device withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. I

What I claim as my invention is 1. A package-fastener comprising a baror body portion, a looped string having the ends fastened in the ends ofthe body portion, a metal loop threaded on the string and formingintermediate of the length of the looped string a loop with a metal endand looped string sides, the free end of the main loop being designed tobe passed through the metal loop, so as to I tighten the same toward themain bar, and means on such main bar for retaining the metal loop inplace after being brought into position as and for the purposespecified.

2. A package-fastener comprising a bar or body portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, a metal loopthreaded on the string and forming intermediate of the length of thelooped string a loop with a metal end and looped string sides, the freeend of the main loop being designed to be passed through the metal loop,so as to tighten the same toward the main bar, and a projectionextending upwardly from the main bar for retaining the metal loop inplace after being brought into position as and for the purposespecified.

body portion, a looped string having the ends fastened in the ends ofthe body portion, a metal loop threaded on the string and formingintermediate of the length of the looped string a loop with ametal endand looped string sides, the free end of the main loop being designed tobe passed through the metal loop, so as to tighten the same toward themain bar, means on such main bar for retaining the metal loop in placeafter being brought into position, and means for locking the free end ofthe looped string after the metal loop has been brought into positionas. and for the purpose specified.

4. A package-fastener comprising a bar or body portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, a metal loopthreaded on the string and forming intermediate of the length of thelooped string a loop with a metal end and looped string sides, the freeend of the main loop being designed to be passed through the metal loop,so as to tighten the same toward the main bar, means on such main barfor retaining the metal loop in place after being brought into position,and

IUO

' I05 3. A package-fastener comprising a bar or IIC , a clamping meansfor locking the free end of the looped string after the metal loop hasbeen brought into position.

5. A package-fastener comprising a bar or body portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, a metal loopthreaded on the string and forming intermediate of the length of thelooped string a loop with a metal end and looped string sides, the freeend of the main loop being designed to be passed through the metalloop,so as to tighten the same toward the main bar, means on such mainbar for retaining the metal loop in place after being brought intoposition, and a clamping-lever pivoted on the body portion and designedto be brought down over the free end of the loop of the string, andmeans for holding such lever in the lowered position as'and for thepurpose specified.

6. A package-fastenercomprising a bar or body portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, a metal loopthreaded on the string and forming intermediate of the length of thelooped string a loop with a metal end and looped string sides, the freeend of the main loop being designed to be passed through the metal loop,so as to tighten the same toward the main bar, means including aclamping-lever on such main bar for retaining the metal loop in placeafter being brought into position, and springactuated means for holdingsuch lever in position as and for the purpose specified.

7. A package-fastener comprising a bar or body portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, a metal loopthreaded on the string and forming intermediate of the length of thelooped string a loop with a metal end and looped string sides, the freeend of the main loop being designed to be passed through the metal loop,so as to tighten the same toward the main bar, means includinga-clamping-lever on such main bar for retaining the metal loop in placeafter being brought into position, and a catch pivotally supported atright angles to the lever and adapted to engage in a notch therein whenthe lever is in the closed position and spring means for preventing suchcatch from disengaging said lever as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with the bodyhaving upwardly-extending side flanges and a clamping-lever pivotallysupported between said flanges, said clamping-lever having a curvednotch formed in one of its sides, of a catch pivotally-supported atright angles to the lever and adapted to engage said notch in the leverwhen the lever is in the closed position, and means for preventing saidcatch from rotating in the direction in which it would be forced by thetendency of the lever to Work loose as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a device of the class described the combination with the body,having lateral upwardly-extending flanges, and. the grippingleverpivotally supported between said flanges, said lever having a curvednotch formed in one of its sides of a catch pivoted at right angles tosaid lever, said catch having a curved portion corresponding with thecurve of the notch in the lever, means whereby the lever in being forceddownwardly will rotate the catch on its axis in such a manner as topermit the lever to pass, a spring-actuating means adapted to cause thecatch to spring into the curved notch when the lever has been pressed tothe full extent of its downward motion as and for the purpose specified.

10. A package-fastener comprising abar or main portion, a looped stringhaving the ends fastened in the ends of the body portion, and forming adouble loop intermediate of its length, and means on the main bar forengaging the double loop and retaining it in place after being broughtinto positionas specified.

Signed at the city of St. Thomas, in the Province of Ontario, this 3dday of March,

DUNCAN JOHN MoLEAN. Witnesses:

JOHN HENRY HULL, ALEXANDER MARTIN.

